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Biomedical subjects

J D Jones

Publications and source records attributed to J D Jones.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Clinical evaluation of hydroxyapatite-coated titanium plasma-sprayed and titanium plasma-sprayed cylinder dental implants: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article was to present the preliminary results of a prospective clinical trial comparing titanium plasma-sprayed versus hydroxyapatite-coated titanium plasma-sprayed cylinder (press fit) implants in different regions of the mouth. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-five subjects met the inclusion requirements. Surgery was done in two phases by four experienced surgeons. Implant placement and abutment connection were separated by 3 to 4 months in the mandible, 6 to 7 months in the maxilla. Patients were assigned to either titanium plasma-sprayed or hydroxyapatite-coated implants on the day of surgery. Implant placement was not stratified for the region of the jaws. Outcome assessment was failure (loss) of an implant before or within 3 months of second phase surgery. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-two implants equally distributed between titanium plasma-sprayed and hydroxyapatite-coated titanium plasma-sprayed implants were placed in four different sites; anterior maxilla, posterior maxilla, anterior mandible, and posterior mandible. There were a total of 15 failures (4.26%). Overall, titanium plasma-sprayed implants showed a higher but not significant failure rate compared with hydroxyapatite-coated implants (p = 0.06). Although not statistically significant, we believe that a smoking history played an important role in the failure of implants. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that an hydroxyapatite-coating of an implant allows superior initial integration when compared with a titanium plasma-sprayed surface.

Adult↗

AtDMC1, the Arabidopsis homologue of the yeast DMC1 gene: characterization, transposon-induced allelic variation and meiosis-associated expression.

Based on homologies between the yeast DMC1 and the lily LIM15 meiosis-specific genes, degenerate PCR primers were designed that amplified the Arabidopsis DMC1 gene (AtDMC1). AtDMC1 genomic DNA (8 kb) was sequenced, and the transcript was characterized by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and by 5' and 3' RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends). The AtDMC1 gene contains 15 exons and 14 introns. RNA in situ hybridization analysis showed that expression of the AtDMC1 is restricted to pollen mother cells in anthers and to megaspore mother cells in ovules. The AtDMC1 promoter was fused to the GUS reporter gene, and conferred meiosis-associated expression in both male and female floral lineages. Comparison of AtDMC1 isolated from Landsberg erecta ecotype to its Columbia allele ArLIM15, revealed the presence of a 1874 bp transposon-like element within the promoter region of ArLIM15. RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of AtDMC1 and ArLIM15 are similar. Possible uses for the AtDMC1 promoter are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Map positions of 47 Arabidopsis sequences with sequence similarity to disease resistance genes.

Map positions have been determined for 42 non-redundant Arabidopsis expressed sequence tags (ESTs) showing similarity to disease resistance genes (R-ESTs), and for three Pto-like sequences that were amplified with degenerate primers. Employing a PCR-based strategy, yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones containing the EST sequences were identified. Since many YACs have been mapped, the locations of the R-ESTs could be inferred from the map positions of the YACs. R-EST clones that exhibited ambiguous map positions were mapped as either cleavable amplifiable polymorphic sequence (CAPS) or restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers using F8 (Ler x Col-0) recombinant inbred (RI) lines. In all cases but two, the R-ESTs and Pto-like sequences mapped to single, unique locations. One R-EST and one Pto-like sequence each mapped to two locations. Thus, a total of 47 loci were identified in this study. Several R-ESTs occur in clusters suggesting that they may have arisen via gene duplication events. Interestingly, several R-ESTs map to regions containing genetically defined disease resistance genes. Thus, this collection of mapped R-ESTs may expedite the isolation of disease resistance genes. As the cDNA sequencing projects have identified an estimated 63% of Arabidopsis genes, a very large number of R-ESTs (approximately 95), and by inference disease resistance genes of the leucine-rich repeat-class probably occur in the Arabidopsis genome.

Arabidopsis↗

Characterization of the tomato Cf-4 gene for resistance to Cladosporium fulvum identifies sequences that determine recognitional specificity in Cf-4 and Cf-9.

In many interactions between plants and their pathogens, resistance to infection is specified by plant resistance (R) genes and corresponding pathogen avirulence (Avr) genes. In tomato, the Cf-4 and Cf-9 resistance genes map to the same location but confer resistance to Cladosporium fulvum through recognition of different avirulence determinants (AVR4 and AVR9) by a molecular mechanism that has yet to be determined. Here, we describe the cloning and characterization of Cf-4, which also encodes a membrane-anchored extracellular glycoprotein. Cf-4 contains 25 leucine-rich repeats, which is two fewer than Cf-9. The proteins have > 91% identical amino acids. DNA sequence comparison suggests that Cf-4 and Cf-9 are derived from a common progenitor sequence. Amino acid differences distinguishing Cf-4 and Cf-9 are confined to their N termini, delimiting a region that determines the recognitional specificity of ligand binding. The majority of these differences are in residues interstitial to those of the leucine-rich repeat consensus motif. Many of these residues are predicted to form a solvent-exposed surface that can interact with the cognate ligand. Both Cf-4 and Cf-9 are located within a 36-kb region comprising five tandemly duplicated homologous genes. These results provide further insight into the molecular basis of pathogen perception by plants and the organization of complex R gene loci.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The Arabidopsis downy mildew resistance gene RPP5 shares similarity to the toll and interleukin-1 receptors with N and L6.

Plant disease resistance genes operate at the earliest steps of pathogen perception. The Arabidopsis RPP5 gene specifying resistance to the downy mildew pathogen Peronospora parasitica was positionally cloned. It encodes a protein that possesses a putative nucleotide binding site and leucine-rich repeats, and its product exhibits striking structural similarity to the plant resistance gene products N and L6. Like N and L6, the RPP5 N-terminal domain resembles the cytoplasmic domains of the Drosophila Toll and mammalian interleukin-1 transmembrane receptors. In contrast to N and L6, which produce predicted truncated products by alternative splicing, RPP5 appears to express only a single transcript corresponding to the full-length protein. However, a truncated form structurally similar to those of N and L6 is encoded by one or more other members of the RPP5 gene family that are tightly clustered on chromosome 4. The organization of repeated units within the leucine-rich repeats encoded by the wild-type RPP5 gene and an RPP5 mutant allele provides molecular evidence for the heightened capacity of this domain to evolve novel configurations and potentially new disease resistance specificities.

Alleles↗

The DCL gene of tomato is required for chloroplast development and palisade cell morphogenesis in leaves.

The defective chloroplasts and leaves-mutable (dcl-m) mutation of tomato was identified in a Ds mutagenesis screen. This unstable mutation affects both chloroplast development and palisade cell morphogenesis in leaves. Mutant plants are clonally variegated as a result of somatic excision of Ds and have albino leaves with green sectors. Leaf midribs and stems are light green with sectors of dark green tissue but fruit and petals are wild-type in appearance. Within dark green sectors of dcl-m leaves, palisade cells are normal, whereas in albino areas of dcl-m leaves, palisade cells do not expand to become their characteristic columnar shape. The development of chloroplasts from proplastids in albino areas is apparently blocked at an early stage. DCL was cloned using Ds as a tag and encodes a novel protein of approximately 25 kDa, containing a chloroplast transit peptide and an acidic alpha-helical region. DCL protein was imported into chloroplasts in vitro and processed to a mature form. Because of the ubiquitous expression of DCL and the proplastid-like appearance of dcl-affected plastids, the DCL protein may regulate a basic and universal function of the plastid. The novel dcl-m phenotype suggests that chloroplast development is required for correct palisade cell morphogenesis during leaf development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The tomato Cf-2 disease resistance locus comprises two functional genes encoding leucine-rich repeat proteins.

In plants, resistance to pathogens is frequently determined by dominant resistance genes, whose products are proposed to recognize pathogen-encoded avirulence gene (Avr) products. The tomato resistance locus Cf-2 was isolated by positional cloning and found to contain two almost identical genes, each conferring resistance to isolates of tomato leaf mould (C. fulvum) expressing the corresponding Avr2 gene. The two Cf-2 genes encode protein products that differ from each other by only three amino acids and contain 38 leucine-rich repeat (LRR) motifs. Of the LRRs, 20 show extremely conserved alternating repeats. The C-terminus of Cf-2 carries regions of pronounced homology to the protein encoded by the unlinked Cf-9 gene. We suggest that this conserved region interacts with other proteins involved in activating plant defense mechanisms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Tracer diffusion through F-actin: effect of filament length and cross-linking.

We have determined diffusion coefficients for small (50- to 70-nm diameter) fluorescein-thiocarbamoyl-labeled Ficoll tracers through F-actin as a function of filament length and cross-linking. fx45 was used to regulate filament length and avidin/biotinylated actin or ABP-280 was used to prepare cross-linked actin gels. We found that tracer diffusion was generally independent of filament length in agreement with theoretical predictions for diffusion through solutions of rods. However, in some experiments diffusion was slower through short (< or = 1.0 micron) filaments, although this result was not consistently reproducible. Measured diffusion coefficients through unregulated F-actin and filaments of lengths > 1.0 micron were more rapid than predicted by theory for tracer diffusion through rigid, random networks, which was consistent with some degree of actin bundling. Avidin-induced cross-linking of biotinylated F-actin did not affect diffusion through unregulated F-actin, but in cases where diffusion was slower through short filaments this cross-linking method resulted in enhanced tracer diffusion rates indistinguishable from unregulated F-actin. This finding, in conjunction with increased turbidity of 1.0-micron filaments upon avidin cross-linking, indicated that this cross-linking method induces F-actin bundling. By contrast, ABP-280 cross-linking retarded diffusion through unregulated F-actin and decreased turbidity. Tracer diffusion under these conditions was well approximated by the diffusion theory. Both cross-linking procedures resulted in gel formation as determined by falling ball viscometry. These results demonstrate that network microscopic geometry is dependent on the cross-linking method, although both methods markedly increase F-actin macroscopic viscosity.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

rbohA, a rice homologue of the mammalian gp91phox respiratory burst oxidase gene.

It has been hypothesized that plants contain respiratory burst oxidase which, upon activation, oxidize NADPH and generate extracellular superoxide, O2.-. These proteins are proposed to play a central role in defence against pathogens. However, plant DNA sequences that encode proteins with similarity to components of respiratory burst oxidase have not previously been reported. This paper describes the complete cDNA and genomic DNA sequence of the rice rbohA (for respiratory burst oxidase homologue) gene. The predicted RbohA product is most similar to the main catalytic subunit, gp91phox, of the respiratory burst oxidase of neutrophils. Reverse transcriptase PCR detects rbohA transcripts in both roots and shoots of healthy rice plants.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Four Arabidopsis RPP loci controlling resistance to the Noco2 isolate of Peronospora parasitica map to regions known to contain other RPP recognition specificities.

Interactions between Arabidopsis thaliana and the downy mildew fungus Peronospora parasitica provide a model system to study the genetic and molecular basis of plant-pathogen recognition. With the use of the Noco2 isolate of P. parasitica, the reaction phenotypes of 46 accessions of Arabidopsis were examined and 31 accessions exhibited resistance. Resistance phenotypes examined ranged from distinct necrotic pits or flecks to a weak necrosis accompanied by late and sparse fungal sporulation. Segregating populations generated from crosses between the susceptible accession Col-0 and the resistant accessions Ws-0, Pr-0, Oy-0, Po-1, Bch-1, Ge-1, Di-1, Ji-1, and Te-0 were also screened with Noco2. The genetic data were consistent with the presence of single resistance (RPP) loci in all of these accessions except Oy-0, in which resistance was inherited as a digenic trait. As a first step to molecular cloning, the map positions of four resistance loci were determined. These have been designated RPP14.1 from Ws-0, RPP14.2 from Pr-O, and RPP14.3 and RPP5.2 from Oy-0. RPP14.1 was mapped to a 3.2-cM interval on chromosome 3 that is linked to a region between the markers Gl-1 and m249 known to contain other P. parasitica resistance specificities. RPP14.2 from Pr-0 and RPP14.3 from Oy-0 were also positioned in this interval. Moreover, RPP14.1 and RPP14.2 showed linkage of < 0.05 cM, suggesting possible allelism. The second RPP locus from Oy-0, RPP5.2, was located on chromosome 4 and exhibited strong linkage (< 2 cM) to RRP5.1, a locus previously identified in the Arabidopsis accession Landsberg-erecta. The results reinforce evidence for RPP gene clustering in the Arabidopsis genome and provide new targets for cloning and examination of RPP gene structure, function, allelic variation, and organization within defined loci.

Alleles↗

The tomato Dwarf gene isolated by heterologous transposon tagging encodes the first member of a new cytochrome P450 family.

To transposon tag the tomato Dwarf (D) gene, a tomato line that carries a T-DNA containing a maize Activator (Ac) transposable element closely linked to D was pollinated with a stock homozygous for the d mutation. Hybrid seedlings were screened for dwarf progeny, and three independent dwarf lines were obtained. Two of these lines showed inheritance of a recessive phenotype similar to that conferred by the extreme dwarf (dx) allele. Variegation for the dwarf phenotype in one of these lines suggested that D had been tagged by Ac. Genomic DNA adjacent to Ac in these two lines was isolated by use of the inverse polymerase chain reaction, and the two insertions mapped approximately 2 kb apart. Partial complementation of d was observed when the corresponding wild-type sequence was used in transformation experiments. A cDNA clone of D was sequenced, and the predicted amino acid sequence has homology to cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Alleles↗

Changes in quantitative bone histomorphometry in aging healthy men.

Changes in bone mineral metabolism with aging in healthy men and the roles of various factors in the pathogenesis of age-related changes in quantitative bone histomorphometry in men are poorly defined. To clarify these changes and factors, serum and urinary biochemical parameters and iliac crest bone biopsies were evaluated in 43 healthy men, aged 20-80 yr. The static histomorphometric parameters, cancellous bone volume and osteoblast-osteoid interface, decreased by 40.0% and 19.2%, respectively, between 20-80 yr of age. The dynamic histomorphometric parameters, double and single labeled osteoid, also decreased by 18.6% and 18.0%, respectively, over this period. None of the other static or dynamic histomorphometric parameters changed with age in this population sample of healthy men. Univariate analysis of static bone histomorphometric parameters and biochemical parameters revealed significant correlations between osteoid surface and intact PTH (r = 0.37; P = 0.015); osteoclast surface and serum total testosterone (r = 0.36; P = 0.016), estradiol (r = 0.40; P = 0.009), and FSH (r = 0.49; P = 0.001); osteoblast-osteoid interface and serum phosphate (r = 0.31; P = 0.046); and cortical thickness and serum total calcium (r = 0.38; P = 0.013). Univariate analysis of dynamic bone histomorphometric parameters and biochemical parameters revealed correlations between mineral apposition rate and serum total testosterone (r = 0.32; P = 0.037); total volume-referent bone formation rate and serum osteocalcin (r = 0.43; P = 0.004), total testosterone (r = 0.47; P = 0.001), estradiol (r = 0.35; P = 0.023), and dehydroepinadrosterone sulfate (r = 0.31; P = 0.045); and mean wall thickness and serum total calcium (r = 0.36; P = 0.019) and creatinine clearance (r = 0.42; P = 010). Mineralization lag time and serum phosphate (r = -0.39; P = 0.012) and urinary total pyridinoline (r = 0.36; P = 0.023), and mean wall thickness and urinary total pyridinoline (r = -0.38; P = 0.013), were inversely correlated. Multiple regression analysis using all-subset analysis comparing cancellous bone volume to serum and urinary biochemical parameters in these men indicated that the log free androgen index and body weight best predicted the age-related decline in iliac crest cancellous bone volume (r2 = 0.19; P = 0.015). Multiple regression analysis by the same method, comparing bone density at different skeletal sites to bone histomorphometric parameters, indicated that lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) was best predicted by cancellous bone volume and mineral apposition rate (r2 = 0.31; P = 0.001), femoral neck BMD by cancellous bone volume and osteoid surface (r2 = 0.19; P = 0.020), femoral greater trochanter BMD by cortical thickness and single labeled osteoid surface (r2 = 0.13; P = 0.060), and total body BMD by cancellous bone volume and surface-based bone formation rate (r2 = 0.31; P = 0.001). In summary, cancellous bone volume, osteoblast-osteoid interface, and double and single labeled osteoid decreased with age in this sample of healthy men. The lack of detectable change in bone density at some skeletal sites in these men may be due to the small sample size or other confounding factors. Multivariate analysis suggests that different combinations of histomorphometric parameters predict bone density at different skeletal sites, and that cancellous bone volume predicts bone density at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total body, but not at the femoral greater trochanter. We conclude that alterations in several biochemical parameters are important in the pathogenesis of age-related bone loss in healthy men.

Adult↗

Awareness and identification of athletes with sickle cell disorders at historically black colleges and universities.

OBJECTIVE: Information regarding the incidence or complica- tions of sickle cell disorders in athletes has not been well reported in the literature. In this study we identify the amount of exposure that athletic trainers have to athletes with sickle cell disorders at historically black colleges and universities and describe the precautions, screening procedures, and treatment techniques used to identify and manage this population. DESIGN AND SETTING: A 12-question survey was mailed to head athletic trainers asking about their exposure to athletes with sickle cell disorders. SUBJECTS: Athletic trainers at 94 historically black colleges and universities. MEASUREMENTS: Descriptive data were compiled as frequen- cies and reported as a percentage of the total responses (n = 34). The data were also grouped by NCAA division or as non-NCAA member institutions. RESULTS: Of the 94 surveys, 34 (36%) were returned. Respondents reported that 4.9% of their athletes had the genetic trait, yet only 12% of the schools required screening for the trait during their athletic preparticipation examinations. Three of the schools (9%) reported a total of 10 incidents of athletes having sickle cell crises at their facilities. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that there is a likelihood for athletic trainers to encounter athletes with sickle cell disorders. Further education regarding sickle cell disorders may be needed.

Journal Article↗

Novel GUS expression patterns following transposition of an enhancer trap Ds element in Arabidopsis.

Enhancer trap derivatives of the maize Dissociation (Ds) transposon were introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana. The enhancer trap Ds was so designed that upon transposition to sites containing regulatory sequences in adjacent genomic DNA, transcription of a Ds-borne beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene would be activated. Sixty percent of all transposition events were associated with GUS expression patterns including one linked to a mutant phenotype. Patterns of GUS expression were found in various organs and were stably inheritable in the F4 and F5 progenies. These results demonstrate the potential value of the technique as a means for detection of developmentally regulated genes and analysis of their function. The enhancer trap construct used in our experiments, as well as the seeds of primary transformants are publicly available.

Arabidopsis↗

Analysis of splice donor and acceptor site function in a transposable gene trap derived from the maize element Activator.

Gene trap vectors have been used in insertional mutagenesis in animal systems to clone genes with interesting patterns of expression. These vectors are designed to allow the expression of a reporter gene when the vector inserts into a transcribed region. In this paper we examine alternative splicing events that result in the expression of a GUS reporter gene carried on a Ds element which has been designed as a gene trap vector for plants. We have developed a rapid and reliable method based on PCR to study such events. Many splice donor sites were observed in the 3' Ac border. The relative frequency of utilisation of certain splice donor and acceptor sites differed between tobacco and Arabidopsis. A higher stringency of splicing was observed in Arabidopsis.

Arabidopsis↗